Pompey got back on track by beating Oxford on Tuesday and will now be looking to inflict the same fate on Gillingham this weekend. Kenny Jackett’s side remain fourth in the League One standings and are six points behind Lincoln in second, while five clear of seventh-placed Accrington. Their visitors, meanwhile, are 15th and out of the play-off race according to their manager Steve Evans. He made that declaration following a narrow defeat at struggling AFC Wimbledon earlier in the week. With 16 matches remaining for the Gills, however, their fans might not have given up hope of a late charge up the table. The Kent outfit are currently in their eighth successive campaign in the third tier after claiming the League Two title in 2013. They have only ever won twice at Fratton Park, although both of those successes have come in the past three years. It was Pompey who came out on top when the sides met at Priestfield back in October, courtesy of goals from John Marquis and Michael Jacobs. TEAM NEWS Alex Bass (leg) and Michael Jacobs (hamstring) have both returned to light training, with James Bolton (ankle) still missing. Gillingham loan midfielder Callum Slattery is set for a spell on the sidelines after injuring his ankle ligaments, while Dominic Samuel (knee) is the only other absentee. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Pompey: 20 wins Gillingham: 9 wins 9 draws At Fratton Park Pompey: 12 wins Gillingham: 2 wins 5 draws OFFICIALS Referee: Tim Robinson Assistants: Nigel Lugg and Andrew Fox Fourth Official: Rob Smith BETTING Pompey are the 5/8 favourites with VBET to secure all three points, while the visitors can be backed at 9/2.
We are so unpredictable at the moment. last week I fully expected us to beat Blackpool and lose at Oxford - and look what happened. The number of home defeats this season is alarming. The fact that the partizan cauldron and the sheer wall of noise from the Pompey faithful has been missing is surely a major factor. In four home fixtures in various competitions in recent years we've had a win, a draw and two defeats. Last season we drew 0-0 and in the reverse fixture this season we won 2-0
The ingredients of home advantage are thought to be the home crowd, no travelling and knowing the pitch. It would appear from recent experience that the crowd is far and away the most the dominant factor. it would be interesting if someone analyzed the ratio of home wins to games a) in front of crowds and b) without crowds when covid crisis is over.
Half time, and it's 1-1. We took the lead in the 32nd minute with a bullet like header from Sean Raggett, following a brilliant run by Marcus Harness who beat three Gillingham players before sending over a lovely cross. Gills equalised in the 40th minute with an easy goal from Vadaine Oliver following an error by Lee Brown. Commentators on Radio Solent keep apologising for the foul language from Gill's manager Steve Evans and asst. manager Paul Raynor throughout the first half !!
Half-Time Match Stats:- Home Team: Portsmouth ..........Away Team: Gillingham Possession: Home 51% Away 49% Shots: Home 7 Away 8 Shots on Target: Home 4 Away 4 Corners: Home 3 Away 3 Fouls: Home 9 Away 5
Final whistle. 1-1 draw. Ellis Harrison had a goal disallowed in the 58th minute, due to a soft foul by Lee Brown. We brought on John Marquis for Ellis Harrison in the 59th minute, Ryan Williams on for Ronan Curtis in the 79th minute, and Jack Whatmough for Haji Mnoga in the 85th minute. Haji Mnoga received a yellow card for a foul on Ogilvie in the 82nd minute, but other than that he had a good game, especially with his decent long throws. Former Pompey loanee Stuart O'Keefe got booked in the second half for a foul on John Marquis. Even more foul language in the second half from the disgusting Steve Evans. Strange that the 4th official didn't do anything about it.....
Final Match Stats:- Home Team: Portsmouth ..........Away Team:Gillingham Possession: Home 54% Away 46% Shots: Home 12 Away 18 Shots on Target: Home 6 Away 6 Corners: Home 6 Away 3 Fouls: Home 19 Away 11
The aerial superiority of the pompey centre backs has been a more or less positive constant this season - until this game. The competitiveness of the Gillingham forwards in the air was a major reason for Gillingham more than holding their own against Pompey. Again our strikers did not score but I would not judge them too harshly until we find a forward passing number 10 in the middle of the field to sit behind them. I thought White played reasonably but he virtually played fairly wide on the left side - as did Jacobs before succumbing to injury. We have three good wingers ( Curtis Harness and Williams) to pick our wingers from. We have Marquis, Harrison and Hiwla to pick strikers from and White, Byers ,Jacobs(when fit) and possibly Close to pick a number 10 from. Why then are we constantly playing wingers as number 10 s or strikers and mid fielders on the wings? We should be playing one of the potential attacking mid fielders in a position towards the centre of the park where he has the option to move the ball to either wing ie 180 degrees of passing options - not limited to 90 degrees as is the case when they play on one side of the park. Lets hope for better tonight. PUP
